Study

Effects of dimming light-emitting diode street lights on light-opportunistic and light-averse bats in suburban habitats

  • Published source details Rowse E.G., Harris S. & Jones G. (2018) Effects of dimming light-emitting diode street lights on light-opportunistic and light-averse bats in suburban habitats. Royal Society Open Science, 5, 180205.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use low intensity lighting

Action Link
Bat Conservation
  1. Use low intensity lighting

    A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2015 at 21 road sites in Hertfordshire, UK (Rowse et al 2018) found that street lights dimmed to an intensity of 25% had higher activity of Myotis spp. but lower activity of common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus than street lights dimmed to 50% or left undimmed. A greater number of Myotis spp. passes were recorded at street lights dimmed to 25% than at street lights dimmed to 50% or left undimmed (data reported as statistical model results). Fewer common pipistrelle passes were recorded at street lights dimmed to 25% than at street lights dimmed to 50% or left undimmed. The activity of Myotis spp. and common pipistrelles did not differ between street lights dimmed to 25% and unlit controls. Each of 21 sites had three lighting columns (10 m high lamp posts with neutral light-emitting diode (LED) lights) along a stretch of treelined road. Each of four lighting treatments (controlled using pulse modulation) was applied for two consecutive nights/site in May–August 2015: 0% (unlit), 25% (average 11 lux), 50% (average 20 lux), undimmed (average 36 lux). Bat activity was recorded with a bat detector attached to the middle lighting column.

    (Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)

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